Therapeutic table



June 30, 1953 A. L. COLSTON THERAPEUTIC TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1951 Her/we L. 604 5 row,

INVENTOR.

- @fiW June 30, 1953 A. L. COLSTON THERAPEUTIC TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1951 4277/01? L. COLSTON,

INVENTOR. v

1477'0E/VEK Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFIQE 2,643,651 THERAPEUTIC TABLE Arthur Larron Colston, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Application January 22, 1951, Serial No. 207,130

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to physical therapy equipment, and particularly to a table which may be used by doctors of physical medicine, masseurs, Osteopaths, chiropractors, and qualified physiotherapists.

Many tables have been devised for use in physical therapy, the present table having the dual purpose of automatically applying vibration to the body or as a stationary table for manual body manipulation. The basic purpose of the table is to assist in relieving nerve tension, helping to regulate osmotic pressure, and to encourage the normal readjustment of internal organs, which, through injury or incorrect posture, may have assumed a distorted position in the body.

The table itself is a semi-flexible manipulative table, simple in design. Its primary features of construction are two parallel tubular runners bent upwardly at the ends to formthe table support, and two parallel springs, to which a plywood table is attached, the springs being .spiraled at their ends to provide the desired resiliency for automatic and manual operation.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate body manipulation both manually and mechanically.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved physical therapy table capable of automatic or manual use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple construction for a physical therapy table, which may provide a continuous automatic vibration of a certain type to the body, or which may be used as a stationary table for manual manipulation of the body.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ing the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the table of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another side elevational view showing the table in an adjusted position.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the table embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is a detailed'view showing the support for the motor of the table and taken along the table embody- -line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6' is a detailed view showing the connection 2 between the motor and the table for imparting vibrations thereto taken along the line 6-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1-! of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, in which the same numerals identify like elements, the stand for the table comprises two tubular runners 5 and 6 having lower cross members i and 8 and upper cross members 9 and H] of approximately eighteen inches inlength. Spaced adjacent the ends of cross member 1 andwithin the runners 5 and 6, is a stirrup [2 having a cross member 13 and leg members M. The leg members have curved ends extending beyond the cross member I, so that when the stirrup is rotated by hand or by foot, the curved ends contact the upright portions of the runners 5 and 6 and hold the stirrup in position. Thi stirrup is for the purpose of raising the foot end of the table, as shown in Fig. 3, to an angle of approximately ten degrees with. the horizontal. It has been found that many manipulative processes are facilitated when the body is reclining at the angle shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the ends of the cross members 9 and Ill, are the ends of two tempered spring steel runners i8 and i9, approximately two inches in width, and approximately one quarter of an inch in thickness. The ends of these runners are in spiral form, approximately nine inches in diameter, and, as shown in Fig. 7, the inner ends surround a bearing memberifl, into which is a second bearing member or bushing 2!. The cross member 9 is held in position by a screw 22 threaded into the bushing 2|, and on each side of runner 6, are spherical elements 23 and 24. The bearing members are held in position by a pair of washers 25 and 26, while washer 27 spaces the washer 25 from the spherical element 2 3. The end of runner 6 is closed by a cap 29. Thus, the ends of the coil springs of the runners may slightly rotate upon the cross members 9 and Hi when the table is vibrated, either by motor or by hand.'

Fig. 7 also shows the connection between the stirrup l2, the cross member i, and the runners 5 and 6, the cross member 1 being solid, and into which is threaded a screw 3! passing through the runner 6. Two washers 32 are on the sides of stirrup leg I4 and permit rotation of the stirrup when it is adjusted between the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The screw has a head 33.

The table platform 35 is mounted on the 5-3 straight portions of the spring elements It and i9 and attached thereto by bolts such as shown at 36. The table is comprised of five ply board, on which is placed a thickness of rubberized hair approximately two inches in dept one thickness of upholsterers cotton, and then a canvas back plastic material to provide the finish, the entire table being approximately six and one-half feet in length and three feet in width. A nasal slot 31, approximately twelve inches in length and four inches in width, is cut into one end of the table surface to allow a patient to assume a prone position while undergoing treatment. When the patient is in a reclining position undergoing treatment, the nape of the neck is so placed at the closed end of the slot that the effect of the treatment is intensifled through the action of the mechanical acti vation of the table stimulating thosenerves which are found concentrated within that area of the anatomy.

To mechanically activate the table, a motor 40 is suspended from two cross angle members M and 42, the motor being of approximately one quarter horse power, although a motor of smaller or larger size may be used, if desired. One end of the motor is mounted on a bracket 44, one end of which is connected to the angle cross member 41 by bolts 45, bolts such as shown at 46 attaching the angle member to the table 35. The bracket M has a slight bend to position the axis of the motor at approximately fifteen degrees to the axis of the table, and has included therein a socket 48 in which is a resilient ring 49, such as rubber, held in position by a plate 50 and screws Within the rubber ring is a cylindrical member 52 attached to the end bell of the motor 49.

The other end of the motor is attached to the cross member 42 by means of a bracket 54 having a tilted central portion, to which is bolted, by

bolts 55 and 53, a bearing socket 51. Within the socket 51, is a ball bearing 58 having an inner race of spherical form into which a ball 59 is positioned. The ball is on a cylindrical shaft member Bl, into which is inserted the shaft 62 of the motor 40, and fixedly attached therein by a set screw 63. It is to be noted that the axis of the ball shaft (it is displaced with respect to the axis of the motor shaft 62 to provide eccentricity between these two axes. Rotation of the motor 40, therefore, will vibrate the table in a semirotary motion, as shown by the arrows 65 in Fig. 1.

To prevent the motor from crawling in view of its mounting with respect to the table 35', a bias spring 66 is positioned between a bracket 61 attached to the table 35 and the end bell 68 of the motor 40. The spring 66, therefore, urges the motor it toward its mounting on the bracket M, and removes the end thrust of the ball 59 in the bearing 58. A motor switch Til is provided on the under side of the table to energize and deenergize the motor. The motor 40 provides a semi-rotatable motion along the major axis of the table 3'5.

As mentioned above, the present table may be used as a. stationary table for masseurs; osteopaths, and chiropractors, while the energization of the motor ifl permits automatic vibration. The bearings are all self-lubricated so that the entire equipment has a long life. The table permits the specific manipulative science of chiropractors to be used on the spineous portion of the back without requiring the removal of any part of the surface of the table, thereby providing a firm, semi-flexible support to the entire surface of the body. The table permits deep tissue manipulative technique whenever such technique requires flexibility and support, and yet, firmness of contact. The table permits the application of regulated oscillation to the patient without undue stress or strain, which may be applied in either reclining or prone positions with equal efficiency. Of course, the table is so designed that the oscillative motor may be used during the application of various forms of manual therapeutic manipulation atthe descretion of the technician, this being applicable in either the horizontal or tilt positions. The table is sturdy, rugged, and so designed that, if any repairs or replacements are required, they may be easily made.

I. claim-1 l, A physical therapy table comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal members, a platform on said members, a stand for said members, said members being resiliently mounted on said stand, and a motor attached to said platform for imparting vibrations thereto, the axis of said motor being at an angle to the plane of said platform.

2. A physical therapy table comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal members, a platform on said members, a stand for said members, said members being resiliently mounted on said stand, and a motor attached to said platform for imparting vibrations thereto, said members having spiral ends attached to said stand and means are provided for mounting said motor with its axis at an angle of substantially fifteen degrees to the longitudinal'axis of said platform.

3. A physical therapy table comprising a pair of parallel longitudinal members, a platform on said members, a stand for said members, said members being resiliently mounted on said stand, a motor attached to said platform for imparting vibrations thereto, said members having spiral ends attached to said stand, means are provided for mounting said motor with its axis at an angle of substantially fifteen degrees to the longitudinal axis of said platform, said stand including a pair of parallel tubular members with upturned ends and a stirrup attached to one end thereof to raise one end of said platform to position the axis of said platform at approximately ten degrees to the horizontal.

s. A table adapted for manual and mechanical body manipulation comprising a stand, a rectangular platform on said stand normally in a horizcntal position, and resilient means for attaching said platform to said stand, said means being positioned at substantially the four corners of said platform, said resilient means including two parallel spring members having straight portions to which said platform is attached and spiral ends, said stand being connected to the inner ends of said spirals.

5. A table adapted for manual and mechanical body manipulation comprising a stand, a rectangular platform on said stand normally in a horizontal position, resilient means for attaching said platform to said stand, saidmeans being positioned at substantially the four corners of said platform, and a motor connected to said platform, said motor having its axis parallel with the axis of said table in one plane and at an angle of substantially fifteendegrees to the axis of said table in a plane at right angles to said first plane.

6. A table adapted for manual and mechanical body manipulation comprising a stand, a rectangular platform on said stand normally in a horizontal position, resilient; means for attaching said platform to said stand, said means being in the form of runners having parallel straight portions attached to said platform with spiral ends attached to said stand at substantially the four corners of said platform, and a stirrup attached to said stand to tilt said table approximately ten degree to the horizontal.

'7. A physical therapy table comprising 2, rectangular platform, a stand, resilient means for mounting said stand to said platform at the four corners thereof, and motor means attached to said platform at an angle to the plane of said platform for vibrating said table.

8. A physical therapy table comprising 3, rectangular platform, a stand, resilient mean for mounting said stand to said platform at the four corners thereof, and motor means for vibrating said table, said resilient means being two flat parallel members extending th length of said platform and having spiral ends, the inner ends of which are attached to said stand.

9. A physical therapy table comprising a rectangular platform, a stand, resilient means for mounting said stand to said platform at the four corners thereof, and motor means for vibrating said table, said motor means having its axis in a plane passing through th axis of said platform and in a plane at right angles to said. first plane, and at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees to the plane of said platform.

10. A physical therapy table comprising a rectangular platform, a stand, resilient means for mounting said stand to said platform at the four corners thereof, and motor means for vibrating said table, said motor means having its axis in a plane passing through the axis of said platform and in a plane at right angles to said first plane, and at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees to the plan of said platform, a stirrup being provided at one end of said stand for positioning said platform at approximately ten degrees to the horizontal.

ARTHUR LARRON COLS'I'O'N.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Emerson June 27, 1950 

